What new support measures are planned to help European fruit and vegetable producers cope with the Russian embargo? When asked in the European Parliament plenary session on Wednesday 15 November by the chair of the agriculture committee, Czesław Adam Siekierski (EPP, Poland), Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan merely drew attention to the initiatives in place for three years. He acknowledged, however, that the problem had not been resolved.
“We have already provided a total amount of aid of €490 million, which corresponds to a withdrawal of 1.7 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables”, the commissioner said. These temporary measures have been extended until 1 July 2018.
“In parallel, we are working to ensure a gradual opening of new markets for European Union apples by lifting sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, particularly in Asia, in countries like China, India and Vietnam, and in the American countries, particularly the United States and Canada”, he stressed, adding: “I am disappointed, however, that the United States has not fulfilled its promise to open the market for fruit to Poland and Belgium in particular, as it promised to do some time ago”.
The commissioner said he was prepared to consider requests from the member states for structural measures within the framework of the amendment of rural development programmes. State aid up to a ceiling of €15,000 per farmer over three years may also be granted following the green light from the European Commission. “I see no political signs” that suggest that the restrictions imposed by the EU on Russia will be lifted in the near future, Hogan indicated. (Original version in French)